Texas House Bill HJR110

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to establish permanent funds for the support of state institutions and agencies of higher education that do not participate in funding from the permanent university fund.

Impact

The legislative changes proposed in HJR110 involve amendments to Article VII of the Texas Constitution. The proposed Permanent University Fund II will be set up as a trust outside of the state treasury, managed jointly by the boards of regents from the University of Houston System and the Texas Tech University System. This new fund aims to ensure stable financial support for these institutions, potentially addressing historical disparities in funding compared to others benefiting from the Permanent University Fund.

Summary

HJR110 proposes a constitutional amendment intended to establish permanent funds specifically for the maintenance and support of state institutions and agencies of higher education, notably those that do not currently participate in funding from the Permanent University Fund. This initiative highlights a significant shift in how funding for higher education in Texas may be structured, introducing additional resources aimed at supporting institutions that have traditionally been excluded from such funding frameworks.

Contention

One notable point of contention regarding HJR110 is the mechanism for transferring funds from the existing Permanent University Fund to the new Permanent University Fund II. The amendment stipulates that transfers will occur only when certain fiscal thresholds are met, which could lead to concerns about the adequacy of resources for education during transitional phases. Additionally, there could be debates surrounding the equity in funding distribution among different universities, leading to discussions about the effectiveness of the proposed funding models in meeting diverse institutional needs.